Hanyu beats Chan for men's figure skating gold | Fox News Hanyu beats Chan for men's figure skating gold Published February 14, 2014 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Email Print Sochi, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) - Neither man was perfect, but Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu edged three-time world champion Patrick Chan of Canada for gold in men's figure skating at the Sochi Olympics. Hanyu won the short program Thursday with a record score of 101.45, leading Chan by just under four points. Despite mistakes from both on Friday, Hanyu managed to also win the free skate to give Japan its first gold medal in the men's competition. Canada has still never won gold in men's figure skating. Chan became the third silver medal winner in the nation's history, following Elvis Stojko (1994, '98) and Brian Orser (1984, '88). Orser just happens to be Hanyu's coach. Kazakhstan's Denis Ten won bronze with a brilliant effort. He had been ninth after the short program and had one of the few clean skates of the night.

American Jason Brown was sixth after the short program and was the last skater to take the ice Friday. He had a chance to win a medal, but a stumble early in his routine left him 11th in the free skate and ninth overall. Ten was in the second-to-last group and set the bar with a sensational effort that netted him a free skate score of 171.04 and a two-night total of 255.10. There were still six skaters in the last group and only two managed to top Ten's score. Spain's Javier Fernandez was first in the last group and was in bronze medal position after the short program, but he did not thrill the judges on Friday. His score of 166.94 was fifth-best and dropped him directly behind Ten, where he eventually finished. It was basically a two-man competition for gold between Hanyu and Chan. Hanyu was the first of the two to take the ice for the free skate and he fell on his opening quad jump. A second mistake occurred moments later when his hands touched the ice while completing a triple-flip.

Still, his artistry and other technical elements enabled him to finish with a score of 178.64 and a total of 280.09. It still left the door open for Chan, who was next on the ice. After opening with a perfect quad-toe, triple-toe combination, Chan touched the ice while landing each of his next two jumps -- a quad and a triple-lutz. He also had a couple of other wobbles during his program and earned a score of 178.10 to finish at 275.62. At age 19, Hanyu became the second-youngest Olympic men's figure skating champion. American Dick Button was 18 in 1948 when he won the first of his two gold medals. The only man in the field with a previous Olympic medal, Japan's Daisuke Takahashi, finished sixth. He won bronze four years ago in Vancouver for Japan's first Olympic men's figure skating medal. American Jeremy Abbott finished 12th after a personal best of 160.12 in the free skate.

He performed brilliantly on Friday after a nasty fall in his short program left him 15th. Advertisement Who Won Men's Figure Skating Gold Medals? Home » Winter Olympics » Gold Medal - Men's Figure Skating Who Won Men's Figure Skating Gold Medals? Men's Figure Skating has been a staple of the Winter Olympics since the early 1900s. It is now one of the most popular events. The event has two parts - short program and the free skate which include mandatory skills. The judges score the skaters on technical merit and presentation. The Gold Medal winner in 2010 was Evan Lysacek , who broke a string of five straight gold medalists from Russia. Other Americans to win the gold include Brian Boitano in 1988, Scott Hamilton in 1984, David Jenkins in 1960, Hayes Alan Jenkins in 1956, and Dick Button in both 1948 and 1952. Gillis Grafstrom of Sweden is the only three time gold medalist.

Year Men's Figure Skating Olympics Results 2014: Analyzing Medal-Winning Performances | Bleacher Report Men's Figure Skating Olympics Results 2014: Analyzing Medal-Winning Performances Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories Streeter Lecka/Getty Images 0 Comments The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi will likely be remembered as a defining moment in the landscape of men's figure skating, as 19-year-old Japanese sensation Yuzuru Hanyu claimed gold over archrival Patrick Chan of Canada, who entered the competition as the three-time reigning world champion. Although it was sloppy at times, the men's competition still featured some entertaining storylines. While the Hanyu-Chan battle overshadowed the event, it also served as a big platform for bronze medal-winner Denis Ten of Kazakhstan. Here's a closer look at the men's figure skating medalists in Sochi. For complete information and results, visit Sochi2014.com .

Gold: Yuzuru Hanyu, Japan Embed Hanyu made a big statement in the short program to start the competition by becoming the first man to eclipse the 100-point mark with a score of 101.45. While Hanyu entered the Olympics as the world-record holder with his 99.84 mark at the Grand Prix Final in December, he still blew everyone away with his technical precision and bendy body. Barry Wilner of the Associated Press shared Hanyu's reaction following his record-setting performance. "I was so surprised with my score," Hanyu said. "I didn't know I got over 100." He shouldn't have been, considering the speed, sharpness, entertainment value and total conviction of his skating. He nailed his two biggest jumps, including a huge a quadruple toe loop to open the program, and his triple lutz-triple toe combination was exquisite. And then the fun began.

He charmed the judges with his facial expressions, staring directly at them with an inviting smile during his intricate steps and turns to "Parisian Walkaways." That set up Hanyu with about a four-point lead over Chan heading into Friday's free skating program, where the both skaters struggled. Hanyu was on pins and needles following his routine when he missed two of his first three jumps. Still, he rebounded nicely and put up a score of 178.64, which was enough to fend off Chan. Gold medal in the men’s free skate goes to Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN), silver- Patrick Chan (CAN) & bronze- Denis Ten (KAZ)! pic.twitter.com/kPumL0Yabn — Sochi 2014 (@Sochi2014) February 14, 2014 American figure skating coach Adam Leib broke down Hanyu's free program jump-by-jump for the New York Times in a fascinating article that also features frame-by-frame pictures of Hanyu's jump attempts.

While Hanyu's imperfections on his early quad Salchow and triple flip were noteworthy, his high quality quadruple toe loop and triple Axel-triple toe loop earned high praise from Leib. With his victory, Hanyu became the youngest men's Olympic champion since 18-year-old American Dick Button won in 1948. Looking ahead to the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea, Hanyu appears poised to make a serious run at becoming the first two-time gold-medalist since Button repeated as champ at the 1952 Winter Games. Silver: Patrick Chan, Canada Chan's career seemed to be building up entirely to these 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, so it's too bad that he couldn't come away with a gold medal. Still, two silver medals isn't bad, as he also helped Canada earn a runner-up finish in the first-ever team competition in Olympic figure skating. Following a shaky early triple Axel, Chan regrouped and put together a solid routine, as detailed by Rosie DiManno of The Toronto Star . He quickly got his thoughts reorganized and mind focused, to pull out that brilliant quad-triple combo. “It wasn’t a perfect entrance," Chan said.

"That’s where the training kicked in. I still managed a great quad-toe-triple-toe combination.” In the end, Chan finished with a stellar score of 97.52, but Hanyu was just too good on Thursday night. Even though he was in second place following the short program, Chan told DiManno he was ecstatic about a 97 at the Olympics and that he was looking forward to seeing how Hanyu would handle the pressure of a lead following the first part of the event. By the time his turn came around on Friday night for the free routine, Chan had a great chance to bring home the gold. Following Hanyu's mishaps, Chan needed a score of 182.58 to win the gold, about 14 points below his personal record. Despite the attainable goal, the "Canadian Curse" continued, as Chan became the fifth world champion figure skater from Canada to come up short in the Olympics, per Nick McCarvel of NBC Olympics . “Today was a difficult day,” said Chan after his performance, per McCarvel. “We all had rough skates. Sometimes it’s who makes the least amount of mistakes. I made one too many mistakes.

It’s the Olympics and so maybe that got to me." Ivan Sekretarev/Associated Press Leib also broke down Chan's free routine, which featured two early slip-ups from the 23-year-old that required him to put his hand on the ice, following his stellar quad toe loop-triple toe loop combo to open his skate. Ultimately, Chan's inconsistent program featured too many miscues, as Leib downgraded three of his eight jumps on the evening. Chan will be 27 when the 2018 Winter Games take place in South Korea, and Hanyu figures to still be in his prime, so it's hard to see Chan ever getting his hands on a gold medal as an individual. He can earn some redemption with a fourth consecutive victory at the World Figure Skating Championship next month in Japan, but the odds look stacked against him as far as Olympic gold medal chances go. Bronze: Denis Ten, Kazakhstan Ivan Sekretarev/Associated Press While it was expected to see Hanyu and Chan atop the podium upon the completion of the men's event, Ten's presence was something of a surprise, especially after his short program.

Following Thursday's action, Ten was in ninth place after scoring an 84.06 in the short program. But he didn't seem to mind taking on a spectator role before learning of his fate from the judges, per McCarvel's report . A seriously good skate came from Denis Ten, who was ninth after the short program, and was the first skater in the third group. The 20 year old from Kazakhstan performed cleanly in his “Young Lady,” free skate, perhaps one of only a handful to do so all evening. He watched from the athlete’s cool-down room as skater after skater hit the ice (literally), eventually being told to put back his costume for the on-ice flower ceremony. “I root for beautiful figure skating,” Ten told reporters. “I didn’t watch every skate from the beginning to the end, but it was a battle. When you’re on the ice you’re fighting against yourself. It was an interesting event. To me, I enjoyed watching Patrick and Yuzuru. I was wondering who was going to win.” In an event where many of the world's top skaters failed to seize the moment, Ten's performance was arguably the most mistake-free.

As NBCOlympics.com noted, Ten has done this sort of thing before. "Denis skated a very good program and as the night kept going on it became hard to compare to it," laughed his coach Frank Carroll, who has guided a slew of champions including American Evan Lysacek to gold in Vancouver. In fact, Ten is earning somewhat of a reputation for delivering clean performances as the sport's leading lights crumble under pressure. In a similarly error-strewn evening at last year's world championship, the little-known Kazakh skater had again provided the evening's shining moment to take silver behind Chan. This marked the second Olympics of Ten's career, as he also finished 11th in Vancouver. But following his victory, Ten told reporters he still has bigger things in mind, so look for him to be a force in South Korea in four years.

US Olympic Figure Skating: Ranking the Top 20 Moments of All Time | Bleacher Report US Olympic Figure Skating: Ranking the Top 20 Moments of All Time James McMahon Contributor IJanuary 13, 2017 US Olympic Figure Skating: Ranking the Top 20 Moments of All Time 1 of 21 John Redman/Associated Press During a rich and storied Olympic history, American figure skaters have delivered their fair share of magical medal moments and unexpected feats of athleticism and skill. Since 1948, the United States has won 14 gold medals delivered by 13 skaters, many of whom rank among the most beloved athletes in our country's history. Overall, U.S. figure skating has produced an impressive 46 medal moments of one kind or another. Some of those triumphs came from decorated skaters who delivered on the greatest of expectations from under the brightest of spotlights. Other memorable moments came from unheralded skaters who burst onto the Olympic ice to claim unexpected glory, be it gold or otherwise. Here’s a look at the top 20 figure skating moments and accomplishments in U.S.

Olympic history, a grand past that might very well be added to during the Sochi Winter Games during the next couple of weeks. 20. Tiffany Chin Blazes Olympic Trail for Future Asian-Americans in 1984 Games 2 of 21 With a graceful and elegant performance in the 1984 Sarajevo Games, then-16-year-old Tiffany Chin signaled the beginning of the rise of Asian-American excellence in U.S. Olympic figure skating that would deliver the likes of Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan soon thereafter. Chin, who finished a surprising fourth in Sarajevo, delivered an unexpectedly strong free skate that nearly earned her a bronze medal while facing a world-class group of skaters that included Katarina Witt and Soviet Kira Ivanova. Her rare combination of grace and athleticism promised great things to come for the American, but injuries would prevent her from competing in the 1988 Calgary Games. That said, the importance of Chin’s medal-worthy performance in those Winter Olympics opened the door for the great Asian-American skaters who would follow her just several years later. 19.

14-Year-Old Scott Allen Wins Bronze Medal at 1964 Innsbruck Olympics 3 of 21 Two days before his 15th birthday, Scott Allen skated to a bronze medal at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, making him the youngest Olympian in the history of the Winter Games at the time. While Allen’s memorable performance against older and more experienced medal contenders wasn't necessarily a surprise, it’s an incredible feat for a 14-year-old to deliver a medal performance under such intense Olympic pressure. Allen, who finished just several points outside of the silver medal, entered the Games as the reigning U.S. national champion and would go on to add a silver medal at the 1965 World Championships. He remains the youngest male and individual medalist in Winter Games history. Scenes from his historic skate can be seen at the 1:58 mark of the above video. 18.

Debi Thomas Becomes First African-American Medalist in 1988 Winter Games 4 of 21 The 1988 Olympic ladies figure skating competition was destined to belong to East Germany’s Katarina Witt, but that didn't stop American Debi Thomas from putting her own groundbreaking stamp on the Calgary Games. On the heels of her second national championship title, Thomas skated to the bronze medal at the 1988 Games and became the first African-American to medal in the Winter Olympics. By her lofty standards, the Calgary performance was likely not Thomas’ best, but there’s no denying it led the way for more African-American Olympians who have followed her, including modern-day stars like speedskater Shani Davis. While certainly a trailblazer, Thomas’ third-place showing in Calgary wasn't entirely unexpected. The Stanford alum and current orthopedic surgeon won both the 1986 U.S. national championships and World Championships and was named that year's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year. 17.

Paul Wylie Shocks 1992 Albertville Olympics with Silver-Medal Performance 5 of 21 Given his limited resume heading into the 1992 Olympics, not only was little expected of Paul Wylie in Albertville, France, but many also questioned his mere presence on the team. Wylie had never won a national championship or placed better than ninth in the World Championships, yet in one of the biggest surprises in U.S. Olympic figure skating history, the American delivered a pair of terrific performances in France to claim the silver medal. Wylie was in third after a strong short program and proceeded to put down the free skate of his life, pulling off a triple Axel as part of a double-toe-loop combination. He was spot-on with his spins and overall choreography. The effort was so good that the American received two first-place votes but ultimately finished just behind Viktor Petrenko in a tight and unexpected battle for gold. The silver-medal performance gave the U.S. a men’s medal in four consecutive Olympics at the time. 16. U.S.

Men Sweep 1956 Cortina D’Ampezzo Olympics 6 of 21 The 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Games will be largely remembered for the dominant performance of the U.S. Olympic men’s figure skating team, which captured all three medals in the men’s competition. Led by Hayes Alan Jenkins’ gold-medal performance, the American men swept the podium for the first and only time in its Olympic history. Ronnie Robertson and David Jenkins added silver and bronze medals, respectively. The brother tandem of Hayes and David Jenkins were the catalysts for the inspiring American effort in Italy, which followed the 1952 Oslo Olympics, where the United States won both a gold and bronze medal as well. 15. Michelle Kwan Brilliant but Defeated in 1998 Nagano Olympics 7 of 21 Michelle Kwan is arguably the most unlucky woman in U.S. figure skating history, a status that was on full display in the 1998 Nagano Games.

The heavily decorated and talented skater claimed a pair of Olympic medals during her run atop the American ranks, but it was in Nagano where she performed the best free skate of her life only to be outdone by 15-year-old Tara Lipinski. Skating ahead of Lipinski, Kwan performed nearly flawlessly, laying down a gorgeous triple Lutz and triple-toe-loop toward the end of her long program that seemed to promise victory. Emotion poured out of the 17-year-old as the potential of gold brought her to tears. Then came Lipinski’s stunning free skate performance, and Kwan was left with the disappointment of a silver medal. It was a devastating setback that robbed the American of her best-ever chance to win gold. Four years later, she again fell short, winning bronze at the Salt Lake Games. An injury prevented the five-time world champion from competing in the 2006 Winter Games. 14.

Nancy Kerrigan Moves Past Attack, Captures Silver at 1994 Olympics 8 of 21 Seven weeks after suffering a clubbing to her right knee in a brutal attack planned by rival Tonya Harding’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, Nancy Kerrigan wowed the world with her silver-medal performance at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, which followed a bronze medal skate in the 1990 Games. In fact, her brilliant performance in the free skate program was believed by many to be worthy of the gold medal that was actually captured by Oksana Baiul. In what was one of the most controversial decisions in the East vs. West Cold War era, Kerrigan lost out to the Ukrainian, 5-4. Coupled with the controversy surrounding her attack, the judges’ decision made Kerrigan one of the most sympathetic and likable figures in the history of U.S. Olympic ladies figure skating. She handled the disappointment of missing out on gold with grace and dignity and remains one of America's most beloved figure skaters of all time. 13.

Timothy Goebel Lands Historic Three Quads at Salt Lake Games 9 of 21 Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Affectionately known as the “Quad King,” Timothy Goebel became the first and only man to ever land three quadruple jumps in a single Olympic program during the 2002 Winter Olympics. While the performance was only good enough to deliver the then-21-year-old a bronze medal behind a pair of powerful Russian skaters, it remains one of the most impressive and memorable skates by an American Olympian in recent memory. The effort also delivered the U.S. Olympic men's figure skating team its first medal since 1992 . The amazing effort made the reigning 2002 national championships silver medalist an instant star of the stateside Olympic Games, earning him appearances on The Today Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in the hours following the jumps. Goebel’s subsequent attempt to make the 2006 Olympics fell short with a seventh-place finish in the national championships, leaving his triple quad as his lasting gift to U.S. Olympic figure skating history. 12.

Carol Heiss Wins 1960 Gold, Delivers on Promise to Dying Mother 10 of 21 Following her silver medal at the 1956 Winter Games, Carol Heiss promised her dying mother she would remain an amateur and deliver Olympic gold four years later at Squaw Valley. The decorated American skater did more than just keep her word. She did it in dominating fashion. Skating on home ice, Heiss was absolutely brilliant in the 1960 Olympics, claiming first place on all nine judges’ cards as she became just the second American woman to win the gold medal. Heiss, who became the first woman to land a double axel in competition three years earlier, was nearly flawless with her graceful and flowing jumps and combinations that had made her such a popular figure in the Squaw Valley Games. The triumph didn't just deliver the gold medal that escaped Heiss four years earlier, it also helped a daughter make good on a promise to her mother. 11.

Dick Button Lands Double Axel, Wins Second Olympic Gold Medal in Oslo 11 of 21 On the heels of his historic gold-medal performance in the 1948 Olympics, Dick Button broke even further ground with his dazzling performance at the 1952 Games in Oslo, Norway. Button, who four years earlier became the first man to land a double Axel in Olympic competition, executed the first-ever triple loop in the Winter Games in Oslo. Always one to welcome a challenge on the ice, Button kept the move in his program despite the fact that he had a big lead entering the free skate and didn't necessarily need it to win his second gold medal. To this day, Button remains the only American figure skater to win Olympic gold twice in his career. 10. Scott Hamilton Ends 24-Year U.S. Gold-Medal Drought in '84 Sarajevo Games 12 of 21 One of the United States most popular gold medal champions kicks off our top 10 moments.

Hamilton entered the 1984 Sarajevo Games as the clear man to beat, and although his performance there was short of perfect, he became the first American to win Olympic gold in more than 24 years . With rising Canadian star Brian Orser pushing him in the long program, Hamilton delivered a safe but technically sound performance to claim the gold he seemed destined for when the Games began. While by no means ground breaking, his victory was memorable in that it ended a down period in Olympic men’s figure skating history that saw only three medals captured (two bronze, one silver) dating back to David Jenkins’ gold-medal skate in Squaw Valley. 9. Tenley Albright Wins First-Ever Gold by U.S. Woman Skater in '56 Olympics 13 of 21 Just weeks before arriving in Cortina d’Ampezzo for the 1956 Winter Games, Tenley Albright lacerated her ankle to the bone in a practice accident, a mishap that threatened to keep her out of the Olympic figure skating competition. By the time it had ended, however, Albright had defied the odds and captured the first-ever gold medal in U.S. Olympic women's figure skating history.

In the first Olympics ever televised around the world, Albright, who had won the silver medal in the 1952 Winter Games, overcame the foot injury and a strong push from fellow American Carol Heiss with a nearly flawless long program to claim the gold medal. Albright, who also overcame polio as a young child, would retire a year later, but will always be remembered for the determination she demonstrated in Italy some 12 months earlier. 8. Dorothy Hamill Captures Gold, America's Hearts in 1976 Innsbruck Olympics 14 of 21 Skating to music from the great Errol Flynn movies, Dorothy Hamill overcame pre-skate nerves and a misunderstanding with some supporters in the crowd to win 1976 Olympic gold with a graceful performance in Innsbruck, Austria. Just moments prior to her free skate program, Hamill saw a sign in the stands that read “Which of the West? Dorothy!” The emotional Hamill was shaken to tears when she first thought the spectators were calling her a witch during the middle of the Cold War.

Instead, the sign was from fans supporting the American as the skater from the Western Hemisphere who would ultimately defeat East Germany’s Christine Errath. Once she realized the support behind her, Hamill relaxed and skated beautifully, delivering gold and becoming America's sweetheart just eight years after Peggy Fleming had done the same. 7. Peggy Fleming Shines 'In Living Color' at '68 Winter Olympics 15 of 21 For the first time in its history, the Winter Olympic Games were delivered to a worldwide television audience in color , and Peggy Fleming put down a performance that was worthy of the bright new technology. Not only did the American darling dominate a talented field of ladies skaters in Grenoble, France, winning Olympic gold by more than 88 points over her closest competitor, she averted the United States’ first gold-medal shutout in the history of the games. By far the most prominent member of that U.S. Olympic team, Fleming would remain one of the most popular American Olympians and is a breast cancer survivor and activist in finding a cure for the disease. 6. Dick Button Wins First U.S. Figure Skating Gold at 1948 St.

Moritz Games 16 of 21 Not only did Button become the first American figure skater to win a gold medal in the 1948 Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland, he helped to revolutionize the sport in the process. A true trailblazer, Button became the first man to execute a double Axel in an Olympic competition, and in the process, he earned first-place votes from all but one of the 18 judges. Making the effort even more impressive is the fact that Button, who went on to enjoy a long and successful career in figure skating commentary, had just landed the move for the first time only two days earlier. It was a gutsy move that cemented Button's unrivaled place in men's Olympic figure skating lore. 5. Kristi Yamaguchi Delivers Graceful Gold Medal Skate in '92 Albertville Games 17 of 21 It's on to the top five with one of the greatest-ever American Olympic ladies figure skaters. Kristi Yamaguchi didn't just end a 16-year gold-medal drought for U.S.

Olympic ladies figure skating at the 1992 Albertville Games; she reminded the world that there was still a place in the sport for artistry, style and grace. While her closest competitors, which included fellow American Tonya Harding, were attempting and missing difficult triple Axels in their free skate programs in Albertville, Yamaguchi focused on her triple-triple combinations and artistic choreography to overcome a slipup or two and ultimately claim the first medal for U.S. women's figure skating since Dorothy Hamill in 1976. With the victory, Yamaguchi, who decided not to defend the gold medal just two years later in Lillehammer at the age of 24, became the first Asian-American female to win Olympic gold in any sport. 4. Evan Lysacek Wins Vancouver Gold Without Landing Single Quad 18 of 21 In a tense and extremely tight battle with Russian power Evgeni Plushenko, Evan Lysacek captured Vancouver gold in stunning fashion over the defending Olympic champion, ending a miserable stretch of 22 years without an Olympic victory by a U.S. figure skating man.

The American delivered a clean free skate to rally from second place following the short program, ultimately outlasting Plushenko by 1.31 points. What surprised most people about the upset, however, was the fact that Lysacek won the gold over the previously dominant Olympic champion without landing a quadruple jump in the free skate. What he did do, however, was outduel the heavily favored Plushenko on technical merit, hitting all of the jumps and spins he attempted while delivering an artistic skate. Ultimately, that proved enough for Lysacek to deliver just the seventh gold in U.S. Olympic men’s figure skating history. 3. Tara Lipinski Becomes Youngest-Ever Olympic Gold-Medal Skater at Nagano Games 19 of 21 We've now arrived at the three greatest figure skating moments in U.S. Olympic history and the skaters who delivered them. With an electrifying free skate program that belied her age and limited international experience, 15-year-old Tara Lipinski made history in the 1998 Nagano Games as the youngest figure skater to win an Olympic gold medal.

In an awesome platform for American ladies figure skating, Lipinski battled then-17-year-old Kwan in a competition that came all the way down to the end of a free skate program in which both U.S. stars skated almost flawlessly. Largely based on technical merit, Lipinski won the competition and denied Kwan a gold medal that would continue to escape her in future Olympics. Not only does Lipinski’s performance rank among the best ever in U.S. Olympic history, but it’s also one that current 15-year-old Sochi Olympian Polina Edmunds might want to study before taking the ice in the upcoming 2014 Olympics. 2. Sarah Hughes Rallies for Impossible Gold at 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics 20 of 21 If the Olympic triumphs we don’t see coming are the most enjoyable to watch unfold, few can top the rally pulled off by Sarah Hughes to win gold on her home soil during the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. With the performance of her life, Hughes soared from fourth place to the gold medal podium with a magnificent free skate that shocked the Games.

After a safe short program, Hughes glided through a free skate that included seven triple jumps—five in combination—that were all far more difficult than anything the bronze-winning Kwan or silver-medalist Irina Slutskaya attempted. Hughes, who was only 16 during the Salt Lake Games, is the last American to claim the gold medal and sits alongside the likes of Fleming, Hamill and Lipinski in the annals of the most beloved female figure skaters in U.S. Olympic history. 1. Brian Boitano Wins 'Battle of the Brians' at 1998 Nagano Olympics 21 of 21 And now for the moment that rises above all others. Brian Boitano didn't just win Olympic gold in the 1988 Calgary Games; he staged one of the most thrilling battles of the modern era with Canadian rival Brian Orser. Trailing Orser after the short program, Boitano delivered what is among the greatest ever Olympic free skates, in which he became the first American skater to land a triple Axel.

Although Orser fought Boitano skate for skate, he recorded a two-footed landing on a triple flip jump and passed on his own triple Axel to finish just behind his American friend in a thrilling contest that was decided in a 5-4 split among the judges. Still known today as the “Battle of the Brians,” Boitano’s victory remains the most epic in U.S. Olympic figure skating history. Barbara Ann Scott, Canadian Figure Skater, Is Dead at 84 - The New York Times The New York Times Sports |Barbara Ann Scott, Canadian Figure Skater, Dies at 84 Search Continue reading the main story Barbara Ann Scott, who became a Canadian heroine at 19 when she won figure skating gold at the 1948 Winter Olympics, succeeding Norway’s Sonja Henie as the premier women’s skater in a sport Europeans had dominated for decades, died on Sunday at her home on Amelia Island, Fla. She was 84. Her husband, Tom King, confirmed her death. Growing up in Ottawa, Scott idolized Henie, the women’s singles champion at the last three Olympics before World War II.

Emerging as a champion in her own right, Scott was hailed as Canada’s sweetheart when she put her country on the international sports map, prompting a toy company to create a Barbara Ann Scott doll. It became a cherished gift for a generation of Canadian girls. Scott was the first North American to capture the world and European championships. She won both in 1947, and again the next year. Her most spectacular triumph came at the 1948 St. Moritz Winter Games in Switzerland, where she became the first, and only, Canadian to win an Olympic championship in figure skating singles, triumphing on an outdoor rink rutted from hockey games. She was also a multiple North American and Canadian national champion. Advertisement And she charmed with her youthful glamour. Life magazine, reporting on her 1947 world championship victory in Stockholm, called her “a shy, blue-eyed Canadian beauty” who was “undeniably lovely in face and form.” Photo Barbara Ann Scott practicing in St. Moritz, Switzerland in 1948.

Credit The Canadian Press, via Associated Press When Scott returned to Ottawa, her hometown, after her world and European figure skating triumphs in 1947, tens of thousands greeted her, and the mayor presented her with a yellow convertible on behalf of the city, the license plate reading 47-U-1 (for “1947, You Won”). Scott gave the car back when Avery Brundage, the head of the United States Olympic Committee, questioned whether her acceptance of it might jeopardize her amateur status and make her ineligible for Olympic competition. But the car was returned to her after she won Olympic gold in 1948 and decided to turn professional. It was repainted blue with the license plate updated to 48-U-1. Scott usually dominated the compulsories, the tracing of figure-eight variations, which accounted for 60 percent of the scoring in her era, but she deftly executed spins and leaps as well. At 13, she became the first female skater to complete a double lutz in competition. “She was delicate, precise, exact, meticulous — simply perfect,” said the American skater Dick Button, who won the men’s singles in St.

Moritz, joining with Scott to herald the international emergence of North American skaters. Button, who won again at the 1952 Winter Games but is known today more for his televised skating commentary, told Sports Illustrated in 1988 that in her St. Moritz gold medal performance, Scott “did everything right, and there was nobody to challenge her who was better in one particular area, either compulsory figure or free skating.” In reflecting on the exactness of her compulsories, Scott said: “I like everything to be neat and tidy and symmetrical. I tried to get as near perfect a circle as possible.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story Scott was named Canada’s athlete of the year for 1945 and again for 1947 and 1948. After her Olympic triumph, she embarked on a pro ice-show career, appearing at Christmastime in 1948 at the Roxy theater in Manhattan. She went on to tour with several companies. Photo Barbara Ann Scott in 2006.

Credit Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press With one, the Hollywood Ice Revue, she made her entrance at Madison Square Garden in 1955 in “ an evening wrap made of 546 white foxtails , 85 dyed gray and 375 blue,” Life magazine reported, lauding her fresh-faced teenage aura. The wrap rendered her “exhausted and nearly immobilized,” Life said, before she shed it to begin her routine. She continued to perform until her marriage in 1955 to Mr. King, the press agent for the Hollywood Ice Revue, in which she succeeded Henie as the featured attraction. They settled in Chicago, where King’s business interests were based, but she was hardly forgotten in Canada. “Even though I was a male skater, she was the one person I looked up to,” Donald Jackson of Canada, the 1962 men’s world figure skating champion and 1960 Olympic bronze medalist, told The Ottawa Citizen in 1999. “Barbara Ann Scott was the one big idol that we skaters knew, that everyone knew.” Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address.

Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy Barbara Ann Scott was born on May 9, 1928, in Ottawa, the daughter of Clyde Scott, an army colonel. She began skating at an Ottawa club when she was 6 and won the Canadian junior championship at 11. When she was 12, her father died, and friends and other Ottawa residents raised money to send her to competitions. She captured the first of her four Canadian national senior titles at 15. After her pro career ended, Scott trained and rode show horses, owned a beauty salon and did charitable work. In their later years, she and Mr. King lived in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, in northeast Florida. Scott carried the Olympic torch before the 1988 Calgary Games. She bore a torch again, this time into Canada’s House of Commons, preceding the 2010 Vancouver Games, where she was among the Canadian flag-bearers. She donated much of her memorabilia, including her Olympic gold medal, to the city of Ottawa in 2011.

On the 60th anniversary of her Olympic victory, she spoke of the moment she received that gold medal. “It was a blinding snowstorm,” Steve Milton quoted her saying in “Figure Skating’s Greatest Stars” (2009). “I’ll never forget seeing the flag go up with the snow falling and hearing ‘O Canada’ so far away from home.” A version of this article appears in print on October 2, 2012, on Page B17 of the New York edition with the headline: Barbara Ann Scott, 84, One-and-Only Skater. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe

Question: Who won both the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Men's singles figure skating gold medal?
Answer: Dick Button